It is important to increase productivity and reduce losses of livestock, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting with the Council of Ministers on 19 August, BelTA has learned.
Among the issues on the agenda was the cattle loss.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that colossal efforts and funds are continuously invested in the agricultural industry of Belarus. Recently, another round of modernization has been launched.
The efforts made have yielded results. There is a positive trend in animal husbandry: this year, the production of milk rose by 6.5%, that of livestock and poultry - by almost 4.5%.
"However, behind these figures there is a frightening number of losses of livestock," the head of state noted. According to the State Control Committee, almost everywhere the main reason is diseases. In just six months, 70,000 head died. Calves from birth to six months old accounted for more than half, almost 40,000.
"This is blatant mismanagement. Back in the day when a peasant lost a cow it was a tragedy. Now, for some reason, we got used to hiding behind regulations and standards. This is wrong!" the head of state critically noted.
